Editing Rachel Summers (section)

==Powers and abilities==
Rachel possesses various [[Psionics|psionic]] abilities, generally exhibited through [[telepathy]], [[Psychometry (paranormal)|psychometry]], [[Psychokinesis|telekinesis]], and limited time manipulation.

===Telepathy===
Rachel's "virtually unlimited" telepathy allows her to receive, broadcast, and manipulate [[Cognition|cognitive processes]] (such as thoughts) in an intricate manner. Examples of Rachel's aptitudes for this include creating durable mind-links across distances, projecting blasts of psionic energy that disrupt aspects of brain functioning, shielding her mind from other telepaths, creating [[illusion]]s, and rendering someone imperceptible to the five senses. In addition, Rachel has demonstrated the ability to telepathically suppress superpowers; control, repair, and exchange minds; as well as safely editing memories. Rachel has also harnessed her telepathy to sense, locate, and track other sentient beings based on their thought patterns, but has a moral apprehension about using this skill due to her experiences as a Hound.

It has been suggested that Rachel's telepathy, although immeasurable in raw power, is mitigated by her limited training and finesse. [[Emma Frost]] was able to outflank an incredulous Rachel in a contest on the [[astral plane]]. In the same issue, Emma offered her educative services; and later still, Rachel received training from [[Professor X|Professor Charles Xavier]] (while he was depowered), giving her access to his vast knowledge and expertise in telepathy.<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #475–486 (Sept. 2006–July 2007)</ref>

===Telekinesis===
By using telekinesis, Marvel Girl can remotely manipulate matter even on a sub-atomic level. She can channel this ability to create protective force fields and blasts of concussive force. By using her telekinesis to levitate herself, Marvel Girl can fly at incredible speeds. Rachel has been able to create a micro [[black hole]],<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #447 (Oct. 2004)</ref> levitate an entire city for a time,<ref>''[[Cable (comics)|Cable]] and [[Deadpool]]'' #10 (Feb. 2005)</ref> sustain shields that withstood Jovian atmospheric pressures,<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #449 (Nov. 2004)</ref> and direct blows from Thor's hammer, Mjolnir.<ref name="X-Men' 2012">''Wolverine and the X-Men'' #12 (June 2012)</ref> Moreover, Rachel's telekinetic fine-motor control has allowed her to alter molecular valences,<ref>''X-Treme X-Men'' #44 (May 2004)</ref> mentally alter clothing with ease,<ref>''Excalibur'' #20 (March 1990)</ref> create a telekinetic/psionic sword (much like [[Betsy Braddock|Psylocke]]'s telekinetic katana),<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #464">''The Uncanny X-Men'' #464 (Nov. 2005)</ref> a telekinetic hammer powerful enough to knock Thor off his feet,<ref name="X-Men' 2012"/> and even rewrite human genomes.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men Annual #14"/><ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #459 (July 2005)</ref>

While all depictions portray Rachel as an extremely powerful telekinetic, the limitations of her hard-psi capabilities have been somewhat inconsistent. Some instances have depicted Rachel's telekinetic potential to be nigh-unlimited, whereas others have shown her struggling against, and even outmatched by, lesser developed telekinetics such as Psylocke.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #455"/>

===Chronoskimming===
Marvel Girl utilizes her psionic talents in conjunction with her ability to manipulate time in a variety of ways. "Chronoskimming" describes her ability to temporarily transplant a person's mind and send it through time into a younger/older version, a close ancestor/descendant, or as a disembodied astral form.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #141-142"/>
Rachel unconsciously emanates a fourth dimensional pulse, effectively creating a chrono-shield that protects her from changes in the timeline.<ref>''Excalibur'' #50 (May 1992)</ref> She can also sense and manipulate residual psychic energy in the form of [[Psychometry (paranormal)|psychometry]].<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #464"/><ref>''[[Marvel Knights]] [[Spider-Man]]'' #6 (November 2004)</ref><ref>''X-Men: Deadly Genesis'' #2 (Feb. 2006)</ref>

[[Image:Galactus.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Rachel Summers, with the [[Phoenix Force (comics)|Phoenix Force]], battling and winning against [[Galactus]]. Art by Alan Davis.]]

===Phoenix Force===
When Rachel was bonded to the cosmic entity known as the [[Phoenix Force (comics)|Phoenix Force]], she demonstrated heightened psi-powers, the ability to manipulate energy and life-forces, and limited cosmic awareness.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #199"/><ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #202–203 (February–March 1986)</ref><ref>''X-Men: Phoenix'' #1–3 (Dec. 1999–March 2000)</ref><ref>''Excalibur'' #61 (Late Jan. 1993)</ref> Rachel's connection to the Phoenix power was lost in the distant future and did not return with her when she traveled back to the early 21st century (present) of Earth-616 (Marvel's mainstream universe).<ref>''Cable'' #85–86 (Nov.–Dec. 2000)</ref>

Most recently, Marvel Girl absorbed a residual echo of the Phoenix Force left in the sword of a previous host, a Shi'ar named Rook'shir.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #479">''The Uncanny X-Men'' #479 (Dec. 2006)</ref> It was revealed that this energy source was a less powerful (but easier to wield) form of the Phoenix Force.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #481"/> The echo was powerful enough to allow Rachel to survive in and fly through the vacuum of space without the need for additional protection, as well as being able to hold her own in combat against the tremendous physical power of [[Gladiator (Kallark)|Gladiator]].<ref name="X-Men: Emperor Vulcan 5">''X-Men: Emperor Vulcan'' #5 (March 2008)</ref> These demonstrations were short lived, however, due to its disappearance, which Rachel attributes to Jean Grey.<ref name="X-Men: Kingbreaker #4"/> She now exhibits her standard power levels, however she has later shown the ability to manipulate Phoenix Fire from the Multiverse.<ref>''War of Kings'' #1–6 (May–Oct. 2009)</ref><ref>''Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain'' #1 (February 2023)</ref>

===Power signature===
As a host for the Phoenix Force, Rachel manifested the cosmic firebird in displays of great power. During her 2000s ''Uncanny X-Men'' appearances, Marvel Girl also exhibited a Phoenix emblem over her left eye whenever she demonstrated psionic feats.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #444">''The Uncanny X-Men'' #444 (July 2004)</ref> It was at first accompanied by a "shadow form" (similar to the one Jean Grey manifested when she absorbed the telepathic powers of [[Betsy Braddock|Psylocke]]<ref>''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' vol. 2, #96–103 (Jan.–Aug. 2000)</ref>). However, the illustration of this shadow form ceased without explanation.<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #472–474 (June–Aug. 2006)</ref> After regaining a small portion of the Phoenix Force (echo), the emblem over her eye changed from a gold Phoenix shape to a static version made of electric blue flame.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #479"/> Her display of power was once more altered in ''X-Men: Emperor Vulcan'' #3, where she produced the familiar fiery [[Bird of prey|raptor]] with which the Phoenix Force is commonly associated (see profile image).

===Skills and abilities===
At times, Rachel has been shown to learn new skills extremely quickly. For example, she mastered a set of "demon ninja" sword skills simply by watching her teammate Shadowcat perform them.<ref>''Excalibur'' #16 (Dec. 1989)</ref> Along with sword fighting, Rachel has experience in lock-picking, vehicular repair (such as engines<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #444"/>), and use of advanced technology and weaponry.<ref>''X-Men: Phoenix Force Handbook'' (Sept. 2010)</ref> However, these abilities have not been evident in her more recent appearances.

===Potential and limitations===
Rachel's power level and scope of abilities have been inconsistently described by writers over the years. However, she is usually depicted with "virtually unlimited" potential in her dual psionic talents.<ref>''X-Men: The 198 Files'' (March 2006)</ref> In most cases, she displayed greater feats as the Phoenix<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #208">''The Uncanny X-Men'' #208 (Aug. 1986)</ref> and even matched [[Gladiator (Kallark)|Gladiator]]'s strength with the aid of a "Phoenix echo".<ref name="X-Men: Emperor Vulcan 5"/> Rachel is considered by many to be an [[Omega-level mutant]] (like her mother), but the only literary reference to this attribute is when the future Sentinel, [[Nimrod (comics)|Nimrod]], classified Rachel as an "Omega class subject" several years before the term was established in Marvel canon.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #208"/>

Even with the omnipotent strength of the Phoenix, magic and magical objects are able to resist Rachel's powers. When the [[Soulsword]] appeared near the [[Excalibur (comics)|Excalibur]] lighthouse headquarters seeking [[Kitty Pryde]] to become its new wielder, Rachel attempted to remove it from bedrock to alleviate her friend's apprehension. Despite using the full extent of power permitted by the Phoenix Force, Rachel was unable to remove the sword, surmising that only Kitty could remove it.<ref>''Excalibur'' #7 (April 1989)</ref>